County: Sligo Site name: DRUMASKIBBOLE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1424
Author: Eoghan Kieran, Moore Group, Corporate House, Ballybrit Business Park, Ballybrit, Co. Galway.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 568686m, N 831231m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.228998, -8.480249
Excavation of a burnt-mound spread was carried out at Drumaskibbole, Co. Sligo, in October 2004. The proposed development entails the realignment of the R284 road from Drumaskibbole to Ballygawley. Slightly south of Drumaskibbole, the road bends sharply, first to the west to avoid the steep slope of a drumlin and then to the east to skirt a small valley. The purpose of the development is to reduce the level of the western edge of the drumlin and to bank up the valley, straightening and levelling the road. At the summit of the drumlin lies Drumaskibbole enclosure, a ringfort (SMR 20:124).
In July 2003 a fulacht fiadh was uncovered and excavated by Tom Rogers (Excavations 2003, No. 1647, 03E1041). A burnt spread, two troughs and a feature comprising laid planks with wattle were uncovered. Slightly to the north of this a line of unbonded stones was also noted. During the course of subsequent monitoring a second possible fulacht fiadh was noted to the south of the previously excavated site.
Excavation of this site was carried out on 4-13 October 2004. The burnt spread measured c. 7m east-north-east/west-south-west by 6m. No trough was noted in the excavated area. It is hoped that analysis of environmental samples and carbon dating of organic matter may cast further light on the palaeoenvironment of the site and may also provide information regarding the form and function of human activity in the area.
